MINNEAPOLIS — Fans at Target Center rose to their feet for the final 44 seconds of Saturday’s 2024 WNBA Finals rematch.
The Lynx and Liberty had kept the game within single digits the entire second half, and Minnesota was up by one.
Kayla McBride drained a big 3 that sent the entire arena into a frenzy. Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO!” blared from the speakers as teams headed to their respective benches.
People reference “playoff atmospheres” outside postseason play more than they probably should.
But Target Center, especially in the second half, was the rare regular-season exception.
How important this game was to each team — both playing without stars and team connectors — was palpable.
The Lynx wanted to reiterate that they are the best team in the league and continue their revenge tour against the team that beat them in the Finals.
The Liberty wanted to correct their wrongs from the previous games and end this road trip with a win.
In the end, though, the Lynx survived, beat the Liberty 86-80.
Sandy Brondello’s message with the Liberty ahead of their Saturday matinee was short and to the point.
“Be better than what we’ve shown in these last games,” Brondello said.
The Liberty haven’t consistently executed at the level they need to if they want to win another title.
Then again, they also haven’t been entirely at full strength since the beginning of the season.
They’re without Breanna Stewart (bone bruise), Nyara Sabally (nagging knee issue) and Isabelle Harrison (concussion protocol).
While the Liberty can’t control who’s on the floor on any given night, they can control how well they lock in to the attention of details and if they go away from playing their style.
“When we lose, we lack discipline in the areas that are just basic needs in basketball, like take care of the ball, blocking out, not giving up those [rebounds],” Brondello said.
Saturday was a different story.
It was a total team effort by the Liberty, who played one of their most complete games of the season. It arguably was the best the team has looked since it lost Stewart to injury on July 26.
New York matched Minnesota’s physicality and played the way the defending champions should.
Even with the Liberty fouling to stop the clock late, it’s hard not to acknowledge the free-throw discrepancy. The Lynx attempted 33 free throws to Liberty’s eight.
But even when the calls weren’t going the Liberty’s way, they didn’t allow it to impact their focus.
New York trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half but trimmed the Lynx’s lead to five by halftime.
The Liberty jumped out to a 6-0 start in the third quarter to capture their first lead of the game.
The Liberty led 61-60 heading into the fourth quarter. But in the end, the Lynx won.
The Liberty head back to Brooklyn, where they’ll host the Lynx on Tuesday.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
